10 February 2011
Waveney MP Peter Aldous today welcomed the Government’s announcement of new rights for those who live in park homes that will allow them to resolve disputes with site owners quickly and more easily, and ensure that their sites are safe and better maintained.
In December last year, after conducting a consultation of the problems experienced by Park Home residents, Mr Aldous urged the Government to act to improve a situation experience by many residents, in a debate in the House of Commons which took place on 16th December.
Under changes to existing legislation, residents will be given access to a dedicated, low cost specialist housing tribunal, which can deal with cases quickly and without the need for legal representation. This removes the prospect of large legal costs which currently puts park home residents off taking action to resolve disputes with site owners.
Residential Property Tribunals will take over most of the powers currently assigned to County Courts under the Mobile Homes Act 1983, and will put park homes residents and their owners on a level playing field when working to resolve disputes.
Housing Minister Grant Shapps also announced plans to consult on new measures to modernise the licensing of caravan and park home sites and allow local authorities to monitor and enforce licences better, thus protecting the many thousands of mainly older people who live on these sites.
Under the changes that will be put to consultation this Spring, local authorities would be given the power to charge site owners for licensing - a function that is currently funded by the tax payer or not provided at all to a satisfactory standard where authorities do not have the resources.
The proposals would also give local authorities the power to carry out emergency works on sites where the owner had failed to do so, and charge the cost back to them.
Other proposals to tackle unscrupulous site owners will also include preventing them from unreasonably blocking sales of homes, by removing their role in approving purchasers, a power which would instead be transferred to the Residential Property Tribunal.
Mr Aldous said:
"I welcome these new proposals which reflect some of the concerns emerging from my consultation of Waveney Park Home residents last year. Park homes play an important role in the housing market, offering an affordable alternative to mainstream housing for many people. Most site owners are decent and honest but where there are problems they can significantly impact upon the well-being of the local communities. These proposed changes will help tackle the unscrupulous owners who are failing in their duties and eliminate the unacceptable practice of a small minority of site owners who routinely block sales for their own financial gain."
In December last year, after conducting a consultation of the problems experienced by Park Home residents, Mr Aldous urged the Government to act to improve a situation experience by many residents, in a debate in the House of Commons which took place on 16th December.
Under changes to existing legislation, residents will be given access to a dedicated, low cost specialist housing tribunal, which can deal with cases quickly and without the need for legal representation. This removes the prospect of large legal costs which currently puts park home residents off taking action to resolve disputes with site owners.
Residential Property Tribunals will take over most of the powers currently assigned to County Courts under the Mobile Homes Act 1983, and will put park homes residents and their owners on a level playing field when working to resolve disputes.
Housing Minister Grant Shapps also announced plans to consult on new measures to modernise the licensing of caravan and park home sites and allow local authorities to monitor and enforce licences better, thus protecting the many thousands of mainly older people who live on these sites.
Under the changes that will be put to consultation this Spring, local authorities would be given the power to charge site owners for licensing - a function that is currently funded by the tax payer or not provided at all to a satisfactory standard where authorities do not have the resources.
The proposals would also give local authorities the power to carry out emergency works on sites where the owner had failed to do so, and charge the cost back to them.
Other proposals to tackle unscrupulous site owners will also include preventing them from unreasonably blocking sales of homes, by removing their role in approving purchasers, a power which would instead be transferred to the Residential Property Tribunal.
Mr Aldous said:
"I welcome these new proposals which reflect some of the concerns emerging from my consultation of Waveney Park Home residents last year. Park homes play an important role in the housing market, offering an affordable alternative to mainstream housing for many people. Most site owners are decent and honest but where there are problems they can significantly impact upon the well-being of the local communities. These proposed changes will help tackle the unscrupulous owners who are failing in their duties and eliminate the unacceptable practice of a small minority of site owners who routinely block sales for their own financial gain."
